Directional antenna control



Oct. 29, 1940. J. c. LOTTER ET A1, 2,219,844

DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA CONTROL I' Filed Dec. 9, 1939 LL I'l il .LL n l* v vff ,f l'

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Patented Oct. 29,- 1940 UNITED STATES y 2,219,844 DIREcrIoNAL ANTENNA CONTROL i' Joseph C. Lotter and Victor W. Lotter,

, Seymour, Wis.

Application December 9, 1939, Serial No. 308,478

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the class of radiant energy and pertains particularly to improvements in beam radio antennae as used for transmission and reception of radio signals.

In the transmission and reception of radio signals, use is frequently made of antenna structures which are mounted to be rotated in a horizontal plane for the purpose of disposing the proximity to the base of the mast on which the antenna is supported, with the result that such mechanism is more or less exposed to the elements and in addition, the area surrounding the base of the mast haselectric wires or mechanical elements extended therethrough for the control of the mechanism, with the result that such area is made unsightly by wires or other apparatus as well as dangerous where electric-current carrying wires must be employed. 1

The present inventionhas for its primary object to provide a new, novel and practical method for supporting a radio beam antenna so that it may be readily vturned to any desired position and for electing such turning in a novel manner from a remote point without the necessity of employing control apparatus around the outside of the mast or the base structure upon which such mast is supported.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel mast supporting means whereby such mast may be rotated through a complete circle by the employment of hydraulic power, thus eliminating the use of gears or electrically driven motors at the base of or in the vicinity of the mast.

A further and more specic object of the invention is to provide a novel mast supporting means comprising a vertically disposed cylinder into which such mast extends with a piston unit in the cylinder beneath the mast and adapted to be shifted through the introduction of iluid therebeneath and into the cylinder, the cylinder being operatively coupled with the mastv in such manner that upon longitudinal shifting of the mast therein, rotary motion will be given to the same on its long axis soas to .elect the turning of the antenna structure supported. upon its upper end.

(Cl. Z-33) A still further object of the invention isto provide in association with a structure of the above describedl character, a novel means for forcing the propelling fluid into the mast enclosed cylinder and a novel indicatorA meansV associated with the iiuid impelling means whereby upon actuation of said last means,.the operator Will be able to determine the exact Yposition to which the mast supported antenna is turned.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken iny connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to` be conned to any strict conformity with the showingof the drawing but may be changed or modiiied so long as such changes or modicationsmarl: no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. f f

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the apparatus embodying the present invention, parts of the same being in section and parts thereof in elevation and showing a radio beam antenna in side elevation andsupported upon the mast. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l1. Fig. 3 isa view in plan of the antenna position indicator. Referring now more particularly to the draw#` ing, it will be seen that the mechanism embodying the present invention consists of two main units, one of which is indicated generally by the numeral I andy may be referred to generally as the rotator while the other unit is indicated generally by the numeral 2V and may be referred to generally as the control unit.

The rotator unit l is designed to be mounted in any suitable location outside of the station where radio signalsare received or from which such signals are broadcast and this unit may be mounted upon a tower, a building or directly upon the ground, if desired. The control unit is located within such building in a position which is convenient for the operator ofthe broadcasting or receivingl apparatus and is operatively coupled in the manner hereinafter described with the rotator unit so that the control of the latter unitmay be readily accomplished. f A

The unit l consists of a vertically disposed vcylinder 3 which at its lower end may be secured in a suitable base i having a fluid passage 5 leading therethrough and into the lowerv part of the cylinder. Slidably disposed within the cylinder which is, of course, vertically arranged and secured to any suitable support by means of attaching ears 6 or in any other suitable manner, is a mast 'I which projects a substantial distance above the upper end of the cylinder and has secured about it and above the upper end of the cylinder 3, the depending skirt 8 which slides over and encloses the upper end of the cylinder 3 in the manner shown to form a weather seal or cap which prevents rain, snow and dirt from working down into the cylinder between the same and the mast;

The mast supports upon its upper endthe rotary beam antenna which is generally indicated by the numeral and which is also conventionally shown in side elevation. No detailedshow ing has been made of this structure since it forms in itself no part of the present invention Vbut may be of any standard design. Y Y

Secured in and extending through thewall of the cylinder 3 preferably at diametrically opposite points, are guide pins I8 which have their inner ends pointed as indicated at II, and these pointed or cone-like ends of thev guide pins engage in the spiral grooves I2 which are formed in and around the mast I so that when the mast is given longitudinal movement in the cylinder, the engagement of these pins in the spiral grooves will cause the mast to turn abou-t its long axis.

Fitting snugly within the cylinder beneath the mast I is a piston unit consisting of a plate I3 to the under side of which is secured a piston cup I4, and interposed between the plate I3 and the bottom or lower end of the mast is an' anti-friction unit indicated generally by the numeral I5. This latter unit acts as a thrust bearing .between the piston unit and the mast, thus permitting fluid pressure to be applied to the piston unit so as to move itV longitudinally in the cylinder while at the same time permitting the smooth and free turning of the mast on the piston unit.

The control unit 2 consists of a suitable housing or box I3 which is here shown as having one side removed so that the interior parts may be readily pointed out. Within this box is a `where it supports a hand wheel 26.

fluid Vcylinder I7 within` which is a piston head I8 carrying a cup washer I9 and attached to the piston head is a tubular stem 28. The outer end of the stem 2D carries a threaded nut 2| across the edge of which is cut a guide groove 22, and this groove receives a guide track or bar 23 which is supported within the casing to extend parallel with the piston rod 28 so that as the rod and threaded nut move longitudinally ofthe cylinder I1, the nut will be held against turning.

The numeral 24 designates a rotatable control shaft having one end extended through a suitable bearing 25 to the outside of the box A portion of the shaft from the other end thereof is screw threaded, as indicated at 21, andextends through and is in threaded engagement with the nut 2|, extending into the tubular piston rod 28 in the manner shown.

Rotatably supported in and extending through the top wall of the box I6 is a vertical shaft 28 upon the upper end of which is supported a miniature representation 28 of the antenna structure which is mounted upon the mast 1. This miniature antenna constitutes an indicator for designating the position of the main antenna and is coupled with the shaft 22 so as to be rotated simultaneously therewith, by a gear train consisting of the gears 38 and 3| which are mounted respectively upon a wall of the casing and upon the shaft 24, and the gear 32 Which is be employed for retaining the gear 32 in rm vcontact with the friction disk 33.

The cylinder I'I is connected with the fluid passage 5in the base of the cylinder 3 by a suitable tube or pipe 35 and the cylinder Il', the tube 35 and the part of the cylinder 3 beneath the mast 'l are `l1ed with a suitable uid 3S bymeans.of which power may be transmitted from the power piston I8 to the piston unit 1n the cylinder 3. 4

vvFrom the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that in the operation of the present mechanism, when vthe handwheel 23 is rotated in one direction, the'piston- I 8 will be forced into the cylinder Il so as to force fluid from the cylinder and through the connecting pipe 35 into the lower part of the cylinder 3, and this will force the mast to move upwardly. Due to the connection between the mast and the cylinder which is maintained by the pins I0 having their points engaging in the spiral grooves I2, the desired rotary motion will be given the mast and the antenna supported thereby. It will also be apparent thatthe position to which the antenna is moved upon actuation of the piston I8 will be exactly designated by the indicator` 29. When the antenna is to be reversely rotated, the hand wheel may be turned so as to shift the piston I8 in the opposite direction in the cylinder I'I, whereupon the weight of the mast 'IV and the antenna carried thereby will cause ,the mast to move back down intothe cylinder 3, reversely rotating the antenna and forcing the fluid back into the cylinder I'I.

WhileY the indicator 29 has been illustrated and described as being in the form of a miniature antenna which is designed to be positioned to extend in the samedirection as the antenna 9, it is to be understood thatwthis may be replaced, if desired, by any other `suitable form of pointing or indicating means.

What is claimed is:

1. A directional antenna, comprising a vertical mast, an antenna supported horizontally on the upper end thereof, means supporting the same for longitudinal vertical movement, means for imparting rotation in one direction to the mast about its long axis upon upward longitudinal movement and for reversing such rotation on downward movement, means facilitating the application of hydraulic power to the lower end of the mast to effect the raising of the same, and means for applying such hydraulic power from a point remote from the mast.'

2. A directional antenna support, comprising a vertically disposed mast upon the upper end of which an antenna is supported, a vertical cylinder into which the lower end of the mast slidably extends, means coupling the mast with the cylinder to effect rotation of the mast in one direction on its long axis with the longitudinal movement of the mast in one direction in the cylinder and for reversely rotating it upon longitudinal movement in the opposite direction,

said cylinder being designed to contain` a uid in its lower end beneath the mast, and means for filling the lower end of the cylindery with fluid under pressure to effect longitudinal movement of the mast upwardly in the cylinder.

3. A directional antenna support, comprising a vertically disposed mast upon the upper end of which an antennaeis supported. a. vertical cylinder into which the lower end of the mast slidably extends, means coupling the mast with the cylinder to eiect rotation of the mast in one direction on its long axis with the longitudinal movement of the mast in one direction in the cylinder and for reversely rotating it upon longitudinal movement in the opposite direction, said cylinder being designed to contain a fluid in its lower end beneath the mast, means for filling the lower end of the cylinder with fluid under pressure to effect longitudinal movement of the mast upwardly in the cylinder, said last means comprising a iluid containing cylinder, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, a fluid pipe line connecting the last-mentioned cylinder with the lower part of the mast cylinder, and means for moving said piston in the last-mentioned cylinder.

4. A directional antenna support, comprising a vertically disposed mast upon the upper end of which an antenna is supported, a vertical cylinder into which the lower end of the mast slidably extends, means coupling the mast with the cylinder to effect rotation of the mast in one direction on its long axis with the longitudinal movement of the mast in one direction in the cylinder and for reversely rotating it upon longitudinal movement in the opposite direction, said cylinder being designed to contain a fluid in its lower end beneath the mast, means for filling the lower end of the cylinder with uid under pressure to effect longitudinal movement of the mast upwardly in the cylinder, said last means comprising a. fluid containing cylinder, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, a fluid pipe line connecting the last-mentioned cylinder with the lower part of the mast cylinder, means for moving said piston in the last-mentioned cylinder, and indicator means coupled with said piston moving means for coordinate movement with the antenna supporting mast for designating the directional position of the antenna.

5. A directional antenna supporting and control means, comprising a vertically disposed cylinder, a mast positioned with one end extending into the upper end of the cylinder and adapted to support a, directional antenna upon its other end, a spiral groove of single hand formed in said mast in the portion lying within the cylinder, a guide nger carried by the cylinder and slidably engaging in said groove, the lower end of the cylinder being designed to receive a fluid under pressure for exerting an upward movement of the mast in the cylinder, and means for injecting a uid into the lower part of the cylinder from a point remote to eiect such movement of the mast.

6. A directional antenna supporting mechanism, comprising a vertically disposed cylinder, a vertically disposed mast having its lower end slidably extended into the cylinder, means operatively coupling the mast with the cylinder whereby upon longitudinal movement of the mast in one direction it will be given rotational movement about its long axis and reversely rotated upon movement in the opposite direction, a piston within the cylinder at the lower end of the mast,

means providing an anti-friction coupling between the piston and the lower end of the mast whereby the mast may turn independently of the piston, a fluid cylinder, a iiuid conducting pipe connecting said fluid cylinder with the lower end of the first cylinder, and means for forcing fluid from the fluid cylinder through said conducting means and into the lower end of the first cylinder.

'7. A directional antenna supporting mechanism, comprising a vertically disposed cylinder, a vertically disposed mast having its lower end slidably extended into the cylinder, means operatively coupling the mast with the cylinder whereby upon longitudinal movement of the mast in one direction it will be given rotational movement about its long axis and reversely rotated .upon movement in the opposite direction, a piston within the cylinder at the lower end of the mast, means providing an anti-friction coupling between the piston and the lower end of the mast whereby the mast may turn independently of the piston, a fluid cylinder, a uid conducting pipe connecting said fluid cylinder with the lower end of the first cylinder, meansV for forcing fluid from the fluid cylinder through said conducting means and into the lower end of the rst cylinder, said last means including a rotary shaft, a piston in the uid cylinder and a threaded connection between the rotary shaft and the piston by which reciprocal movement may be given to the last-mentioned piston, and a rotatably supported indicator operatively coupled with said shaft to be turned thereby and coordinated in its rotary movement with the antenna supporting mast whereby the directional position of the antenna will be indicated.

8. A directional antenna mechanism, comprising a vertically disposed mast supported for vertical longitudinal movement, an antenna unit supported upon said mast, said mast being supported-for rotation about its longitudinal axis, means for imparting rotary movement to the mast in one direction about said axis when the mast is given longitudinal movement in one direction and for reversely rotating the mast when the same is moved longitudinally in the opposite direction, a control unit for the mast including a rotatable shaft, means forming an operative connection between said shaft and the mast whereby upon rotation of the shaft the said longitudinal movement in one direction will be imparted to the mast, an indicator supported for rotation adjacent said control unit and designating the directional position of the antenna, and an operative coupling between said indicator and said shaft whereby the indicator will be moved simultaneously with the turning of the mast and antenna.

9. A directional antenna of the character described, comprising a vertically disposed mast supported for vertical longitudinal movement and for rotation on its longitudinal axis, an antenna supported by the mast, iiuid pressure means for effecting upward movement of said mast, means for eiecting turning of the mast in one direction simultaneously with its longitudinal movement in one direction and for reversing such turning movement upon movement of the mast in the opposite direction, a control unit including a fluid pressure cylinder and a piston movable therein, a fluid conduit connecting said cylinder with said fluid pressure control means whereby upon actuation of said piston in one direction the uid pressure means will be made operative to raise the mast, rotatably supported screw means connected with said pist0n for eiecting its reciprocation in the cylinder, an indicator supported for rotation on a vertical axis for designating the directional position of the antenna, an operative driving connection between said screw and said shaft whereby the shaft may be turned simultaneously with the actuation of the mast, said driving connection including a gear supported by the shaft, and a frictional coupling between the gear and shaft facilitating adjustment of the indicator.

JOSEPH C. LO'ITER. VICTOR W. LOTTER. 

